Shelving to hold pizza cartons

ABSTRACT

Shelving to hold pizza cartons which is made up of various elements (A), for holding of the cartons (S), set alongside each other, or of a single element (B), containing a multiple stecking stacking zone, where these elements present on all sides, apart from the frontal zone, on the bottom and on the cover, protection walls ( 1,2,3,4 ) and carton (S) containment, while the frontal zone presents L-shaped profilings ( 6 ) and/or T-shaped profilings ( 12 ) for cartons (S) containment, where the profiles ( 6, 12 ) show include cuts ( 7 ) in the lower part and/or recesses ( 17 ) in the central zone, useful for the extraction of the cartons from below below and/or from the centre center of the shelf. The shelving also includes eventually presents a cupboard ( 27 ) for the containment of the packs of flat punched cartons useful for the preparation of the cartons by the user and presents a suitable table for preparing the cartons and for introducing the pizza in the cartons (S).

TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

[0001] As is well known, the production of takeaway pizza i.e. pizza tohand over to customers or to deliver to the door, has really spread. Forthis service packaging is necessary, which in practice is a carton tocontain and protect the pizza during transport.

[0002] There is, however, a problem at the pizzeria where it is notpossible to conveniently stack such cartons that are usually piled up inany available spot with the inconvenience that removal of a cartongenerally causes the pile to topple causing considerable problems toeveryone.

[0003] To avoid these problems it is known U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,258 whichdiscloses a pizza box storage and a dispensing assembly. This pizza boxstorage includes a pair of telescoping structures, the lower of which isprovided with a lower dispensing opening to permit grasping andwithdrawal of a single pizza box therethrought. However this pizza boxstorage presents a very complicated construction which increasesconsiderably the costs.

[0004] It is also known U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,866, which discloses adisplay storage and dispensing rack for package, which includespartitioning elements to enclose packages of any selected size, thepartitioning elements being insertable in opposely paired upper andlower grooves.

[0005] Besides there are also known the GB Patent No. 294 803 and the DEPatent No. 1 226 484 which disclose container and display stands forarticle or package in form of cigars, biscuits, sweets, chewing-gumsetc.

[0006] This invention aims to better the known pizza box storages anddispensing assemblies so that they permit simple and economic structureand it envisages shelving aimed at containing the cartons, in orderlypiles and that allows the ensuing removal of the various cartons to befilled with ease and without disturbing the piles.

[0007] The invention in word is illustrated, in the preferable way, inthe attached drawings, where:

[0008]FIG. 1 shows the front view of the shelving subject of theinvention, made up of the various elements placed together,

[0009]FIG. 2 shows the cross-section of the shelving across X-X of FIG.1,

[0010]FIG. 3 shows the front view of the shelving as a single body,

[0011]FIG. 4 shows the cross-section across Y-Y of the shelving in FIG.3,

[0012]FIG. 5 shows the prospective view of example shelving as per FIG.2,

[0013]FIG. 6 shows the side view of one L-shaped leg of a shelf,

[0014]FIG. 7 shows the top view of the leg as per FIG. 1,

[0015]FIG. 8 shows the central and vertical cross-section of the bottomand cover with the resting edge lateral to the legs,

[0016]FIG. 9 shows the view from below of the bottom of FIG. 3,

[0017]FIG. 10 shows the assemblage of the cover fitted with the edgingwith L-shaped legs,

[0018]FIG. 11 shows the assemblage of the flat cover with the L-shapedlegs,

[0019]FIG. 12 shows a prospective view of example shelving obtained byassembling of the legs with the cover and flat bottom,

[0020]FIG. 13 shows a prospective view of a shelf of double height,

[0021]FIG. 14 shows a shelf with lower cupboard suitable to house theflat, punched cartons.

[0022] With reference to the aforesaid FIGS. 1 and 2, the shelving ismade up of various placed near stand alone elements A, of suchdimensions as to contain the cartons S piled up on one another andbeside one another according to the storage requirements for thecartons.

[0023] Each element A is fitted with a bottom 1, lateral walls 2, backwall 3 and cover 4, while the frontal zone 5 stays open and wheresuitable L-shaped profiles 6 are envisaged to hold the cartons stackedinside the shelf element. The lower zone of these L-shaped profiles hasa recess 7, in such way as to create a slightly larger opening than thedimensions of the carton S, so as to allow ensuing extraction from belowof the successive cartons S, while the other cartons S conveniently movedown, held by the L-shaped profile 6.

[0024] According to FIGS. 3 and 4, the shelving is made up of a singleshelf B including for example three stacking zones. This shelving Benvisages lateral walls 8, rear wall 9, bottom 10 and cover 11.

[0025] On the front of the shelving B, there appear L-shaped lateralelements 6, similar to those of FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as T-shapedelements 12, suited to hold the cartons in a transversal andlongitudinal sense.

[0026] It is also possible to create shelvings formed by various singleshelf (A) or various multiple shelf (B) or by an ensemble of singleshelves (A) and multiple shelves (B) superposed one on the other.

[0027] Thus arranged, it is clear that the cartons S placed in a pileinside this shelving A or B, are well placed and protected; they alsoallow easy removal at the moment of boxing and transport of the pizza.

[0028] With reference to the aforesaid FIGS. 6 to 13 an L-shaped leg isindicated to hold the corners of the cartons S receiving the take awaypizzas, useful for the creating of a shelf together with the bottom 14and the cover 15. The front L-shaped legs 13 have cuts 16 in the lowerpart useful for the extraction of the cartons S as per FIG. 12 or thelegs 13 present also cuts 17 useful further extraction of the cartons Sfrom the central zone of the shelf of double height, fitted with a fixedor extractable central dividing shelf 18 as per FIG. 13.

[0029] The bottom 14 and the cover 15 may have a rim 19 of lateral resteither outside or inside the legs 13 and the reciprocal fixing may becarried out by bonding means 20, such as screws, bolts, rivets etc.inserted laterally as per FIG. 10.

[0030] In FIG. 12 the flat cover 21 and the flat bottom 22 are shownresting on the extremities of the legs 13 and with fixing by way ofbonding means such as screws, bolts, rivets etc. inserted vertically asper FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0031]FIG. 12 shows in a prospective view a shelf 24 of limited heightwith removal of the cartons from below, while FIG. 13 shows a shelf 25with double height that envisages removal of the cartons from below andfrom the middle. This shelving may be used alone and the multipleshelving can be obtained by placing numerous single shelf unitsalongside each other.

[0032] It is also possible to arrange rectangular shelving containingmore piles of cartons and in that case, besides the L-shaped legs as inFIGS. 6 and 7, T- shaped central legs 12 are also envisaged. The wingsof the T serve to contain the corners of the cartons of two adjacentpiles. The front T-shaped legs are fitted with cuts 16 or 17 useful forthe extraction of the cartons. These T-shaped legs are already clarifiedin FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0033]FIG. 14 shows shelving 26 fitted in the lower part with a cupboard27 suitable to house the packs of the flat punched cartons useful toprepare the cartons by the user. The shelves described may have feet 28of any nature and conformation of resting on the ground or on countersor they may be fitted with revolving casters 29 which make moving of theshelves easier.

[0034] Besides each shelf or the ensemble of shelves present a suitabletable for preparing the cartons and for introducing the pizza in thecartons (S).

[0035] All the shelving described can have lateral and back walls andpossibly front ones for protection from dust and these may be in anymaterial such as wood, metal, plastic, possibly transparent such asPlexiglas, or any other convenient material.

[0036] Naturally the device according to this invention, may undergovariations and adaptations on the basis of the various possible needs,bearing in mind that the shelving can take on various dimensionsaccording to the dimensions and shapes of the pizzas and the relativecartons to be delivered.

[0037] The shelving described may receive the piles of square-bottomcartons as described but also of circular shape to take round pizzas.

1-11. (Canceled)
 12. Shelving to hold pizza cartons, comprising a singlebody including a plurality of adjacent carton stacking zones, the singlebody including side and rear walls providing an enclosure which is openat a frontal zone, a bottom wall and a cover, the frontal zone havingL-shaped frontal profiling elements and T-shaped profiling elementswhich contain cartons in the stacking zones, the L-shaped and T-shapedprofiling elements each having a lower part which is cut away to createan extraction space for a lowermost carton from a stack of cartons inthe enclosure element, while upper cartons stacked thereon move down ateach removal of the lowermost carton and remain neatly stacked. 13.Shelving according to claim 12, wherein the shelving is comprised of aplurality of stacking zones placed at least one of: a) near one another,and b) superposed on one another.
 14. Shelving according to claim 12,wherein the shelving is an ensemble comprised of a plurality of stackingzones placed at least one of: a) near one another, and b) superposed onone another.
 15. Shelving according to claim 12, wherein the frontalL-shaped profiling elements further include recesses in a central zonethereof for the extraction of the cartons from a center of a shelf ofconsiderable height, in addition to the cut away lower portions. 16.Shelving according to claim 12, wherein the frontal T-shaped profilingelements further include recesses in a central zone thereof for theextraction of the cartons from a center of a shelf of considerableheight, in addition to the cut away lower portions.
 17. Shelvingaccording to claim 16, further comprising a fixed partition placed at aposition lower than the recesses in the central zone.
 18. Shelvingaccording to claim 16, further comprising a removable partition placedat a position lower than the recesses in the central zone.
 19. Shelvingaccording to claim 12, further comprising a cupboard below the cartonstacking zones for the containment of packs of flat punched cartons,useful for the preparation of the cartons by a user.
 20. Shelvingaccording to claim 12, further comprising a table for preparing thecartons and for introducing pizza in the cartons.
 21. Shelving accordingto claim 12, further comprising fixed feet secured at the bottom wallfor resting on a surface to support the shelving.
 22. Shelving accordingto claim 12, further comprising revolving casters secured at the bottomwall for resting on a surface to support the shelving in a movablemanner.
 23. Shelving according to claim 12, wherein the walls and coverof the shelves are made from a material selected from the groupconsisting of metal, wood and plastic.
 24. Shelving according to claim12, further comprising a front protection wall which is transparent. 25.Shelving according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the walls andthe cover is transparent.